Equipment theft ring suspected

LODI — State and county investigators are probing into a commercial and cargo vehicle theft operation after discovering hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stolen equipment from a rural property.

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By The Record

recordnet.com

By The Record

Posted May. 7, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 7, 2013 at 9:23 AM

By The Record

Posted May. 7, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 7, 2013 at 9:23 AM

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LODI — State and county investigators are probing into a commercial and cargo vehicle theft operation after discovering hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stolen equipment from a rural property.

They are asking for the public's help after noticing an alarming trend in San Joaquin County.

“Since January, there has been an increase in storage and (cargo) container thefts,” said Officer James Smith, spokesman for the California Highway Patrol.

CHP reported a search warrant was served May 1 on a rural property near Peltier Road north of Lodi, where the department recovered a number of large stolen commercial equipment.

Totaling several hundred thousand dollars, among the equipment was a 2008 GMC pickup, a 2011 International tractor truck, a 1987 Caterpillar loader, five large sea containers, five container chassis, a stolen handgun, and other items.

Investigators believe the individuals linked to the case had been selling the merchandise for as little as $800 throughout the state.

The search warrant was part of an ongoing investigation into commercial thefts and it involved the Delta Regional Auto Theft Team, the Cargo Theft Interdiction Program and San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office.

Smith said CHP is not releasing the identities of those detained during the raid, because the case is an active investigation.

The CHP is asking anyone with any information on the possible whereabouts of additional storage containers to contact Delta RATT, (209) 948-3790.